Is anyone else nursing and on WW? I chose WW because it was the only program I knew of that had information specifically for nursing women. I am wondering how quickly other nursing women have lost weight on the points system and whether or not it affected their milk supply. I have only been using the program since Monday and have lost 3 lbs this week. My milk supply has decreased this week as well, but it may just be the usual slow down that one experiences after BFing is well established. My baby is 5 weeks old and he is still eating well and gaining weight, so I'm not too concerned, just curious about what other moms have experienced.

Cindy V

If you value your breastfeeding, please, reconsider your decision to start _any_ diet when your baby is this young.

I'm very sorry if this sounds harsh but I am both a long time weightwatcher and a breastfeeding support mother.

Here in Finland WW says that a nursing mother may start their programme when the baby is at least 4 months old and is not exclusively breastfed anymore. You say your baby is 5 weeks and you've noticed a decline in your milk. This is a clear sign saying that continuing with the programme could seriously compromise your supply. The milk supply is very volatile for the first 8 weeks, some experts say that the first 12 weeks are crucial.

You can find more information about losing weight and breastfeeding from the La Leche League's webpages www.lalecheleague.org

Enjoy your new beautiful baby and let the weight loss wait for a while. Babies grow faster than we can imagine and soon there will be a perfect time for you to start a weight loss programme.

best wishes,

anna, mom to two beautiful girls, a breastfeeding support group leader and a long time weight watcher

Thank you for your advice. I am still hoping for someone with first hand experience to share their input with me. If anyone who has BTDT is out there, I'd love to hear from you.

cindy

I joined WW when my DS was 6 weeks old. He has never had any formula!! I did have to watch my point zone there at first. I went over some days if I needed to. I didn't ever let myself get hungry and he never got hungry either. It was kinda slow going since I did go over sometime on the points, but I lost 30 pounds in 11 months and made Lifetime. I think that WW is wonderful for nursing moms. The program teaches you how to eat healthy which is good for both you and the baby. I nursed my baby the whole way thru. He is 15 months now and nurses 2-3 times a day. I think we are slowly weaning. If you have any questions, please email me.

Had I realised that the guidelines are different for nursing mothers in the US and here in Finland, I wouldn't have posted what I did. If your WW allows exclusively breastfeeding mothers join the programme, I'm sure they have tailored the programme accordingly.

Here in Finland the points system is a bit different and doesn't suit exclusive breastfeeding, that's why the min. 4 month rule.

Good luck with the weight loss and congratulations on your new baby.